Waccamaw and Andrews to face off for trip to Lower State tournament

By Chris SokoloskiSouth Strand News

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Chris Sokoloski/South Strand News
Waccamaw High’s Emily Heimberger hits an inside-the-park home run against Andrews on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Warriors won 7-1 and win host the Lady Yellow Jackets in the district championship tonight.

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Waccamaw High’s softball team breezed through the first two rounds of the Class AA playoffs and will have home-field advantage in the district championship against Andrews tonight.

The Lady Warriors will only have to win once to advance to the Lower State playoffs. The Lady Yellow Jackets would have to win two games to advance.

“We expect them to fight very hard,” said Waccamaw coach Scott Streiffert. “We’ve got to make sure we take care of business right out of the gate.”

Waccamaw has won 14 straight games since a 1-0 loss to Dillon. The Wildcats could be waiting in the Lower State playoffs.

Waccamaw beat Andrews 7-1 on Saturday to get a respite before the championship game.

The Lady Warriors were led by Olivia Dunlap, who had a three-run double in the third inning, and Emily Heimberger, who pulled a ball down the first-base line to the fence and legged out an inside-the-par home run.

“We had the momentum behind us,” Heimberger said. “We had the fight, we had the spirit.”

McKenzie Lugin got the win in the circle.

“Waccamaw had some key hits that we … weren’t getting,” Andrews coach Kim Cantley said. “That’s the way it bounces some days.”

Waccamaw is following the same path it did last year, when it finished second in the region, won the first playoff game easily and then traveled to Andrews and won there.

Last year Lady Warriors won the district and Lower State before losing in the state finals.

The Lady Yellow Jackets were led by Malorey Morris who went 2-for-3. Brooklyn Brewington, Allie Rogers, Carson Dawson, Kaite Goins and Carlynn Harper also had hits.

“They’ve got young a team, they’re very aggressive and they play hard,” Streiffert said. “I thought they played a lot harder than what they played last year. I think those younger kids have been good for their team.”

Rogers gave up eight hits and one walk and struck out three.

“I thought she looked sharp, especially early,” Streiffert said.

Andrews then had to beat Loris 7-1 on Monday night to set up tonight’s rematch.

Waccamaw opened the district playoffs with a 17-1 win over Lake City last week.

Heimberger had a three-run triple and Caitlyn Krask had a two-run single.

Hallie Butler went the distance for her sixth win of the year.

Georgetown

The Lady Bulldogs lost 6-4 to Gilbert on a walk-off home run on Monday night. Georgetown will now host James Island tonight.

The winner will travel to Gilbert on Friday night and will have to beat the Indians twice to advance to the Lower State tournament.

The Lady Bulldogs beat the Lady Trojans 6-0 last week in the first round of the playoffs.

Taylor Mercer scattered three hits and struck out five in six innings for the win.

Mercer was 3-for-3 at the plate with thre RBIs. Taylor Graham went 3-for-4 with two runs; and Anna James went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and one run.

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